children book

This month’s book of the month falls under the category of both art and book- it is one of Jerry Pallota’s Alphabet book series , illustrated by Ralph Masiello: “The Frog Alphabet Book.” This book is impressive, not only in artistic design, but in educational value. It uses specific species to represent letters of he alphabet and gives fun facts about each one. While it should be called the amphibian alphabet book (it uses newts, salamanders, and even caecilians), I like that it uses more than just frogs. As an aspiring herpetologist when I was a child, I would have LOVED this book. As an adult, and a herpetologist, I LOVE this book. Truly something all ages can enjoy.

The Frog Alphabet Book

Bottom line… “The Frog Alphabet Book” is awesome, for adults and kids (this is coming from an adult who has no children, so take that as you will). I recommend it.

Well, I have some catching up to do… Summer is a busy time for me, I got behind.

I’ll start with the back-logged May book of the month: Spike the Mixed Up Monster, by Susan Hood and Melissa Sweet.

I try to stay away from too many children’s books as books of the month, because the point is to recommend a fulfilling read… but some children’s books fit that category.

I was given this book for my birthday (because salamanders). I saw the cover and thought “oh, how nice, a cute book about an axolotl.” It’s so much more. This book is a super-amazing-adorable-made-me-pout-my-lip-at-its-cuteness book. It really is a must have for any good salamander enthusiast.

The book is about Spike, a super cute Mexican axolotl (all characters must be read with the appropriate accent, as they speak some Spanish) who thinks he is a horrifying monster. He tries very hard to scare everyone, but can’t because… well… he’s super cute. A real monster visits his lake and he learns a heartwarming lesson that will make the reader fill up with the warm fuzzies.

The end of the book shows pictures of all the real animals illustrated in the books, talks about their life histories and a little about conservation. It also has translations for the Spanish terms.

I am making the story sound sickeningly cute, but trust me, it’s the other kind of cute. You know, the aggressive kind of cute that makes you want to hug something too tight. As much as I like to deny that I succumb to that kind of cuteness, an adorable salamander drawing will do it for me every time. Look at that one of Spike drooping his gills. Too cute.

It doesn’t matter what age you are, you will enjoy Spike the Mixed Up Monster. I have a feeling adults will enjoy it more than the children.